Multishot controller for perforating guns



i y 1954 G- F. TURECHEK MULTISHOT CONTROLLER FOR PERFORATING GUNS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 12, 1950 ess 50 INVENTOR. Gm l-f mam-z y 1954 G. F. TURECHEK ,7 6

MULTISHOT CONTROLLER FOR PERFORATING GUNS Filed Jan. 12, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 N V EN TOR. 650%5 E 7095677676 July 1954 e. F. TURECHEK 2,683,786

MULTISHOT CONTROLLER FOR PERFORATING GUNS Filed Jan. 12, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 M III/l1 1.1%; I

1 N V EN TOR. GEO/96E 709561656 Patented July 13, 1954 v.MULTISHOT CONTROLLER FOR "PERFORATING GUNS George- F.:Turechek, Los

to' Lane -W'ells Compan corporation. Delaware Application January 12, 1950,"Serial No. 138,214

Angeles, Calif., assignor Los Angeles, Calif.,.a

6. Claims. (Cl. 200105) "This invention relates -to gun perforators adapted to be lowered into wells to perforate the casing or surrounding formationsthereof ata plurality ofpoints or levels. -M'ore particularly it is. concerned with ahc s'elective .control of the discharge of 'the several perforating gun units comprising the .perforator apparatus.

In the .use ot Ithaca-called gun perforators adapted to be lowered into oil I well casings for the purpose of perforatingi the latter tobring in a well it is 'of-tendesirable to make the perforations in aawiderzonev'orn at several 'zonesgin or der to: drain enectively the:oil sandswhich have been: penetrated by thecasing. i'Ifhis requires a large number of shots or perforating blasts and when'itiis.Idesinedutoemakez the shots one at a time from a singlelgun' body difiieulties are encountered in, finding.sufiicient space .for. control mechanismsdue to-the smallediam'eter of the gun :body, especially in very. deep swellswhere the lowestbasing \maysbe'. quite small as of the order of 3 .to 5. inches. dn .diam'eter. i #By :making the gun body -su-fliciently 'long, --somas'=to held from fifty to. onehhundredcshotsror:more, it is possible xtov effectv the-perforating :of the casing in'ia minimum of time'tsincez.avsinglex gun body lowered'only oncejinto the. well swill't'suflice for the; operation.

.It is; :therefore, arprincipaliobiectof the-invention to=deviser an :improved dorm .of multi-shot 2 controller particularly adapted for zdeep w'el'ls and well: casings of restricted bore.

Another obj ect is :torprovide" great flexibility in' thenumber of shots whi'ch' may be selectively controlled and'fired from a single'gun body.

/-1Another= object :is tovmake Ether controller of smalllateral: dimensions so that it: can: be used in gun bodies 'for well: casings or small diameter without.unduerestriction of thenumber ofshots to be: controlled thereby.

Another object is .to provide .multi-shotcontrollers which i are" simple in." design: but rugged and shock resistant in constructionzso t-hatthey can beused repeatedly, will stand up in service and operate efliciently'overilong periods of use with a 'minimum 'ofi repairs and servicing.

Other .objects, advantages and features of novelty: will appear from 'thed'etailed description which follows.

The invention utilizes anendless' element in the formofab'elt or chain'which is-arrangedto be moved in stepby step'action; each step-effecting thedis'charge'of a perforating bullet or ex plosiveblastthrough'the casing. One or more electrical contacts carried bythe beltor'chain from the surface of the ground are actuated to effect the step by step movement of the belt or chain. By preference each shot is fired automatically as the belt' or chain-completes each step or" its movement.

The controller is made in two main portions which telescope together when assembled. One portion serving as a container or insulating sheath, supports the fixed electrical contacts from which-lead wiresextend to the perforating charges. The other portion is the control unit supporting the actuating mechanism including the endless element and the movable contacts thereon which-are mounted on an erztension or blade for insertion within the sheath portion.

In order to 'illustratethe invention and the manner of its use, one preferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a gun body assembly partlybrcken away ready to be lowered into a well casing to perforate the latter at one or'more levels;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional'vlew on an an larged scale and partly in elevation of the shot controller, this section being taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is-a similar sectional view of the controller but at right angles to Figure 2, as on line 3-3 of Figure'2, certain of the parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 4 is enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially'on line 4-4-of Figure 3; with parts-broken away but shown in firing position.

Figures 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views on the lines' 5-5 and'G-t, respectively'of-Figure 4, certain of the partsbeing broken away in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional" View on the line of Figure-6;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view toshow the wiring and to indicate the relative positions of the operative parts prior to actuation of the controller; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the controller partly disassembled in order to show more clearly the relationship of the various parts.

"Figure 1 shows a completely assembled gunperforator, A, ready tobeilowereclbycable it into a'well casing. The gun perforator may consist of a cylindrical gun body H of any suitable or desired length provided with recesses or sockets I2 in which are mounted the perforating charges or gun units 33, gun body II being suitably connected to a controller casing M which is in turn attached to cable head 15. An insulated electric conductor I6 forms a part of a supporting conductor cable II] which enters the cable head 55.

The aforesaid gun perforator may, by way of illustration, have a construction and method of operation similar to that disclosed in Lane 2,062,975.

The multi-shot controller of the present inven tion is mounted in a fluid tight controller casing M the general location thereof being indicated at B, The apparatus is shown in assembled form in Figures 2 and 3 and in partly disassembled form in Figure 9. Controller B comprises a lower switching or sheath portion C, and an upper or actuating head portion D which is the control unit. When assembled as shown in Figures 2 and 3, both upper and lower portions are surrounded by a relatively thin cylinder or tubular insulating member 52 composed of fibre board, Bakelite, plastic or other suitable insulating material held in place by screws Ilia as best shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The lower sheath portion C of the controller B is made up of an elongated centrally slotted hollow metal frame H, having an opening into the upper end of the said slot at its upper flanged end Ila and with cut-away open sides which are normally closed on opposite sides by insulating members or side plates I8 and 19, respectively, composed of Bakelite or other suitable material. The side plates is and I9 may be attached to frame I! in any desired manner, as for example by screws 23 as best shown in Figure 6. Insulating plate members [8 and I9 combine with the yoke shaped metal frame I! to close the sides at the slot therein and form thereby an elongated axial recess or passage within portion C, which passage is enlarged laterally by axially directed channels [8a and Na formed in the side plate members l8 and i9, respectively. Both members l8 and [9 are provided adjacent the channels We and Mia and in the marginal portion surrounding the channels, with longitudinally extending rows of spaced contacts 2|. By preference, the contacts on member it are staggered with reference to the opposite contacts on member Is as best shown in Figure '7; also the longitudinal rows of contacts 2! on each member l8 and [9 are made continuous by extending them around the lower rounded end of the recesses or channels lfia and 190. as shown in Figures 8 and 9. Contacts 2! extend through from the inner faces of insulating plate members I8 and I 9 as best shown in Figure '7, for attachment thereto of lead wires 22 which in turn make connection to charges 12 within the gun body as diagrammatically indicated in Figure 8. To this end, insulated wires 22 are passed through a pair of diametrally opposite openings 23 extending axially through a lower transverse annular flanged end portion llb formed on the lower end of frame H, and thence the wires exadapted to receive a mating multi-connection plug from which wires 22 pass to gun charges l2 in a manner similar to that illustrated in the before-mentioned patent to Lane 2,062,975.

The upper control unit or actuating head portion D of controller B is shown by itself at the left of Figure 9 and in assembled relation with the lower or switch sheath portion C, in Figures 2 and 3. It provides between spaced head end members and 48 a cylindrical chamber in which is mounted a suitable electrical actuating mechanism; in this instance, a solenoid electromagnet comprising a coil 32, and an armature 33 slidable axially within the coil and projecting through and having a sliding bearing in a central aperture in the lower head 3! of the solenoid. A coil spring 34 urges armature 33 to the limit of its outward or downward movement from coil 32 and a stop pin 35 serves both to limit its inward or upward movement and to provide a metallic magnetic circuit to the solenoid armature when the solenoid is energized. The outer end of armature 33 carries a cross bar 36 from the opposite ends of which extend a pair of parallel, axially extending guide rods 3'1 and 38 slidably received in suitable guide openings there-- for in the lower head end member 49 which is maintained in spaced relation with the lower solenoid head 31 by suitable arcuately shaped spacers ll and i2 as best shown in Figures 4 and 5. Rods 31 and 38 have stop shoulders 3la and 38a to engage the upper face of lower head member 4 and limit the outward or downward movement of armature 33 under the action of spring 34.

Secured to or integral with head member 40 is an extension in the form of a broad thick metal blade is which is adapted and intended to slide endwise into the axially extending opening in sheath portion C with the opposite edges of blade 44 received in and fittingthe channels "3a and 19a in insulating side plate members l8 and I9, when controller B is assembled. Extension of blade 44 is provided at its ends with transverse shafts 45 on which are mounted pulley members or sprocket wheels 16, blade 44 and head member 40 being suitably slotted to receive sprocket wheels At, the upper one of which is directly beneath armature 33 as clearly indicated in Figures 25. Mounted upon the pulley mem-' bers or sprocket wheels 45 is an endless metallic belt or preferably a chain 41, the longitudinal rows of which are directly aligned with the rows of contacts 2! in the inner faces of insulating side plate members 58 and !9 when controller B is assembled with extension M seated in the axial channel of sheath portion C as shown in Figures 2, 6 and 7. Fixed upon and projecting laterally from opposite sides of belt or chain ii"! so as to engage contacts 25 in the insulating side plate members it and i9 and to move with chain M, are movable contacts 38 supported in cups 49 secured together by rod 50 extending through a link in chain 2'! (Figures 3 and '7), movable contacts 48 being urged outwardly by springs within cups 42. ,In diagrammatic Figure 8, fixed contacts 2! and movable contact 48 which engages them are shown offside or out of alignment with the belt or chain A! for the sake of con venience of illustration only.

Step by step movement of belt or chain t! is effected each time solenoid 32 is energized, by means of the mechanism which will now be de--' scribed, Upper transverse shaft .5 journaled upon the upper end of blade member 44 carries a toothed ratchet wheel 5 6: keyed :thereto :in spaced relation to its sprocket wheel 46 and adjacent to guide 'rod- .3 3. extending from-armature: 33. Rod 38' is longitudinally;recessed" as best-shown .in Figures 4- 'andfi, to rec'eiveag pawl 5i: pivotally mounted at .55; at the'lower end oi'rod 38. A'leaf spring -59.-in :the recessed portion: of; guide rod: 3 3 urges. pawl-51" outwardly to engagethe teethon the ratchetwheel '56. -Pawl'5l has an extension 51a-which engages a stop 68, formedron the inner side of thewrodx-slot; when Ithe-i armature: 33? :has reached theend'of its: upward movement as shown'in' Figure 4, therebyimomentarily "locking the ratchet wheel from further movement either direction, and .at. :thersame" time .another spring pressedzdetent or. pawlififi. carried on. the head- 40 at 'theopposite side". of ratchet wheel 58, engages a tooth on the latter to prevent reverse rot'ationof ratchet wheel 56 and-its shaft iwhen armature" 33 returns to its lowermost position: as showntin'Figure 8, under'theaction of. spring 34, to engage the next tooth; on ratchetwheel-SS. In its uppermnst positionas :shownain: Figuref 4,: a movable contact $4 on a.--supportmgspring-s arm 65 attached to .theupperisideaofsarmature cross bar 36 engages a stationary:contact-66 supported on the-lowerend member of the solenoid,:said stationary "contact "being connected through-a conductor wire as shown diagrammatically at 6? in-Figure-8;to an intermediate-tap of the solenoid coil 32.

The lower end-of the solenoid coilis connected to ground by way of ground wire 68 and the upper end. thereof connected through conductor 69.=t0 the terminal 2'2 which in turn is-connected to the cable conductor .16 within thecable head.

The various'partsof the upper or actuating headiportion vID: of. controllerrB are held .in assembled relation by suitable means, such for example,.as bolts or rods 'extendingrlongituiiinally through the flanges oft-head .members: 39 and 3 I spacers 4 l and/4212.116. ainto-headtendtmember 463. Controller B is assembled by inserting the lower end of extension or blade 44 into the axial opening in sheath'portiofic'uritil its lower head end number 46 engages the-upper flanged end Hanoi frame [1, at which. time the projecting end of. guide rod 31 on armature cross bar 36 isv received. in opening 29 (Figure 9) .incupper frame end Ha while guide rod 38 is received in opening 28a connectingwith thelargeropem'ng forblade. M. "Controller B is now-completelyassembledend portions "C and'D may besecured to each other in anydesired manner. "Income instances the bolts or rods 10 areutilized ior this purpose by screwing them into 'threadedholes 7i therefor in upper'fianged end' 11a of frame. I]. ControllerB nowfu'lly assembled as shown. in Figures 2 and 3 is ready for insertion and. use in a-gun'perforator such as illustrated at A .in Figure -1.

The operation of 'thecontroller will beclear from the diagrammatic showing of Figure 8. VIith thegun perforatorAinplace in-the-w'ell and ready for use the operator on the ground level closes switch or key K which completes the electrical circuit from source E through the conductor cable It in cable 10, terminal 12 and through conductor 69 to solenoid coil 32 and thence in return through the ground 68 thereby energizing the solenoid. Armature 33 is thereby raised, lifting cross bar 36 and guide rod 38 so that pawl thereon rotates ratchet wheel 56 counterclockwise one step. This turns upper shaft 45 and sprocket 46 sufficiently to move chain 41 until .movable contacts: thereon. 'engages' the first fixed contact 2| in insulated members and 19. At the instant of completion of theupward movementby armature bar 36 as shown-in Figure 4; contact 64 thereonengages'contact-ifi, thereby closing the circuit from the solenoid tap connection 6'! through the ratchet 1 mechanism, chain 41, contact 48 and said first fixed contact 2-! to-the fusable-wire'within charge I2 connected thereto-and thence return through ground to the source E, thus firing the first charge. Release ofrkey K .by the *operatorzbreaks the circuits, whereupon solenoid is deenergizedwandarmature 33 is forced down by spring 34-to its lowermost position as shown in Figure 8. At each subsequent. closing of key K, the ratchet mechanism-is actuated 2 one step thereby advancing the 1 chain 41-sufiiciently to cause movable contact'48to engage the next successive fixed contact 2| 2 and fire another charge l2.

.Fromthe above it will-beapparent that :the present invention provides anovel controller for gun perforators which is of great practical value because-of its simple and rugged construction and more particularly becauseit occupies. little spacewhile. providing for selective control and individual firing of a large number of shots-so that the perforating of a well casing can be completed with a single gun perforator 'in-a single operation. A controller for seventy-five shots is very compact, being only 16 inches 1 overall length, due to the-double row of fixedtcontacts on eachside of :the'endless belt or chain-which carries the movable contacts, thus there are two rows of eighteen contacts each. and" two rows of nineteen contactseach, plus the. contacts placed aroundthelower rounded. end of the chain. A controller forastill larger numbenof shots is merely somewhatlonger. Due to the use of the endlessbelt andfiring from alternate sides or insulating members the movement of the belt or chain between shotscan-be slight but thelfixed contacts on each insulating :member are-adequately spaced fromone another. Mounting the fixed contacts longitudinally of the controller reducesl-its lateral dimensions to. a minimum so that theuse-of multi-shot controllers-of :the disclosed type'is not hampered: when casings of small diameter are tobe perforated. An important feature of the invention is its manufacture and assembly in two parts a sheath portionwhich ineludes fixed contactsandwiring to the shots or detonating charges sothat this portion 'may'be made .a fixed "or permanent part of the gun body--and anaactuating head :and switch blade portion-on which is-mounted all the operating mechanism. The latter portion or'control unit is-r-eadily removable .for repairs and. can be used with several sheath portions'while the gun bodies therefor are being reloaded and. rechecked.

While the-invention-has-been herein disclosed inwhat isnow believed to be a preferred form, it-is tabeunderst-ood that the invention is not limited-to the specificdetails thereof but covers alt-changes; uses; adaptations. and modifications within the'scope of. :the appended claims.

1 What-is claimed is:

1. In a multi-shot controller for electrically igniting a plurality of perforating gun charges: an elongated hollow frame having open sides:

insulating members closing the sides of said frame. said members providing a channel and having longitudinally extending rows of stationary electrical contacts adjacent said stationary channel, each of said contacts adapted to be electrically connected to separate ignition means of perforating charges in a gun body; an endless flexible element extending through and movably supported within said channel and having means attached thereto sequentially to make electrical contact with said contacts upon movement of said element in said channel to fire the charges connected thereto; and means for effecting successive movement of said element successively to engage said contacts with said means to control the firing of said perforating charges.

2. In a multi-shot controller for electrically igniting a plurality of perforating gun charges: an elognated hollow frame having open sides; insulating members closing the sides of said frame, said members providing a channel and having longitudinally extending rows of stationary electrical contacts adjacent said channel, the contacts in the rows on one of said insulating members being longitudinally staggered with respect to the contacts in the opposing rows on the other of said insulating members, each of said contacts adapted to be electrically connected to a separate ignition means of a plurality of perforating charges in the gun body on which the controller is mounted; an endless flexible element extending through and movably supported within said channel and having means attached thereto sequentially to make electrical contact with said stationary contacts upon movement of said element in said channel to fire the charges connected thereto; and means for effecting stepby-step movement of said element through said channel.

3. A multi-shot controller for electrically igniting a plurality of perforating gun charges comprising in combination: an elongated hollow frame with open sides; insulating members closing the sides of said frame, said members providing a channel and having adjacent said channel longitudinally extending rows of stationary electrical contacts, each contact adapted to be electrically connected to separate ignition means of perforating charges in the gun body on which the controller is mounted, said frame and said insulating members forming a sheath; and a control unit having an extension insertable within said channel between said insulating members of said sheath and having electrical contact means for successively engaging each one of the stationary contacts on said insulating members in sequence to fire the charges in the gun body.

4. A multi-shot controller for electrically igniting a plurality of perforating gun charges com prising in combination: an elongated sheath of insulating material providing an axial channel, and a plurality of rows of stationary electrical contacts adjacent said channel, each of said contacts adapted to be electrically connected to separate ignition means of perforating charges in the gun body on which the controller is mounted; and a control unit having an extension slidably inserted into said channel, an endless chain movably mounted on said extension and extending through said channel, and electrical contact means on 'said chain for successively engaging separate contacts of said rows of stationary contacts in sequence to fire the charges in the gun body.

5. A multi-shot controller for electrically igniting a plurality of perforating gun charges comprising, in combination, an elongated hollow frame with open sides; insulating members closing the sides of said frame, said members providing a channel and having longitudinally extending rows of stationary electrical contacts adjacent said channel, said contacts adapted to be electrically connected to separate ignition means of perforating charges in the gun body on which the controller is mounted, said frame and insulating members forming a sheath; and a control unit having an extension to be slidably inserted within said channel between said insulating members of said sheath, an endless flexible ele ment movably mounted on said extension and extending through the said channel, electrical contacts on said element separately to engage each of the contacts of the rows of stationary contacts on said insulating members thereby successively to fire the charges in the gun body, and remotely controlled means for efiecting movement of said endless flexible element.

6. A multi-shot controller for electrically igniting a plurality of perforating gun charges comprising: a sheath portion and a control portion in telescoping engagement with each other, said sheath portion providing an insulated channel of substantial longitudinal extent and a series of spaced contacts fixed along the sides of said channel and adapted for connection to ignition means of perforating charges in a gun body, said control portion having an extension in the form of a blade fitting said insulated channel of said sheath portion, a flexible element mounted on said extension for movement longitudinally thereof and having at least one electrical contact for separately engaging said spaced fixed contacts, and means on said control portion for eifecting stepby-step movement of said flexible element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 654,821 Wright July 31, 1900 686,349 Scott Nov. 12, 1901 1,612,852 Bolton Jan. 4, 1927 1,774,801 Macke et a1 Sept. 2, 1930' 1,783,122 Horlacher Nov. 25, 1930 1,794,888 Erickson Mar. 3, 1931 1,906,085 [Norviel Apr. 25, 1933 1,942,115 Milone Jan. 2, 1934 2,039,568 Tamsitt May 5, 1936 2,062,974 Lane Dec. 1, 1936 2,125,487 Church Aug. 2, 1938 2,142,583 Yarbrough Jan. 3, 1939 2,145,228 Neuman Jan. 24, 1939 2,192,591 Alexander Mar. 5, 1940 2,244,299 Johnston et al June 3, 1941 2,317,238 Mennecier Apr. 20, 1943 2,448,380 Marcus et a1 Aug. 31, 1948 2,488,803 Charrin Nov. 22, 1949, 

